Wrap around can carrier carton with central retaining member



May 18, 1965 F. A. CHIDSEY, JR.. ETAL 3,184,103

WRAP AROUND CAN CARRIER GARTON WITH CENTRAL RETAINING MEMBER Filed Nov. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 i z .Z' 71116721 0715: "1 frazzcwaCkz'cisqyJn MJo/m MMa/Lm May 18, 1965 F. A.- CHEDSEY, JR ETAL WRAP AROUND CAN? CARRIER CARTON! CENTRAL RETAINING: MEMBER Filed Nov. 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,184 103 WRAP AROUND CAN CARRIER CARTON WITH CENTRAL RETAINING BYEMBER Francis A. Chidsey, In, Wayne, and John V. Mahon, Norristown, Pa., assignors to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,456 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-115) This invention relates to paperboard wrap around can carrier cartons of the type commonly employed in the packaging of chimed cans arranged in parallel rows.

The invention comprehends an improved sleeve type, open ended, carton of the type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. Re. 25,111.

Although the can retaining arrangement of this patent represents a definite advancement over the prior art of can carrier cartons, it does not represent the final solution to the problem of preventing both vertical and horizontal shifting of the cans within the carton.

In a wrap around can carrier there is a tendency of the upper wall of the carton to flex outwardly or upwardly when the carton is lifted or picked up by grasping finger holes in the top wall. When this happens the space or distance between the top and bottom walls of the carton increases thereby permitting a limited degree of vertical movement of the cans of one row relative to the cans of the other row or to the carton itself. Also, in a carton of this type, no matter how tightly the sleeve is wrapped around the parallel rows of cans, unless the space between the can bodies is occupied or filled, there is a tendency of the cans to shift laterally to a limited degree within the carton.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide, in an open end, wrap around, carrier carton for enclosing two parallel rows of chimed cans, a central retaining member formed in the top wall of the carton and adapted to prohibit or severely restrict both horizontal and vertical movement of the cans Within the carton.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a carrier carton of the type described, of a central, longitudinally extending top wall can retaining member engageable with can chimes, to prevent vertical movement of the cans within the carton, and engageable with the can bodies, to prevent horizontal movement of the cans within the carton.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from an examination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a can carrier carton embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, vertical section taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the structure of the other views may be formed;

FIGURES 5-8 are fragmentary plan views similar to FIGURE 4, but illustrating modified forms of the invention; and

FIGUPE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating yet another modified form of the invention.

3,l8i,l d3f Patented May is, tees ce I It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity certain elements have been intentionally omitted from certain views where they are believed to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the invention, and particularly to FIGURES 1, through 4, it will be seen that the can package includes a wrap around, sleeve type carton indicated generally at W which is adapted to enclose a pair of parallel rows of cylindrical objects such as the cans K, each of which has at least one end of the can body B, a peripheral flange or chime C.

The carton W of FIGURE 1 may be formed from a unitary blank of suitable sheet material, such as foldable paperboard, indicated generally at 10 in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

It will be seen that blank 16 includes a centrally disposed, generally rectangular bottom wall panel 12 having hingedly attached to its opposite side edges along parallel hinge lines a pair of side wall panels 14 which, in turn, have hingedly attached to their side edges a pair of top wall sections indicated generally at 16.

Each top wall section 16 includes a top wall panel 18 which is located immediately adjacent the related side wall panel 14 and which is approximately one half of the size of bottom wall panel 12, so that when the carton is erected the two top wall panels 18 are arranged in co-planar relationship, as seen in FIGURE 1, to form a top wall of substantially the same size and shape as bottom wall 12.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3 the top wall includes a centrally disposed longitudinally extending can retaining member 2i which is also formed from portions of the two top wall sections 16. Each top wall section 15, in addition to one top panel 18, also includes a plurality of relatively narrow elongated retaining member sections or strips extending transversely of the blank and connected to each other along parallel score lines. Extending outwardly from each top wall panel 18 of the blank, these retaining member strips have been designated as first, second and third strips and marked with numerals 22, 24, and 26, respectively, The manner of utilizing the retaining member strips to form the retaining member 2t? will be described later in the specification.

Referring to the uppermost portion of the carton blank it illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings it will be seen lhat there may be cut out of a portion of one retaining member first strip 22, a securing flap 28, the pun pose of which is hereinafter described, which is hinged to the adjacent top wall panel 18 along a hinge line which is an extension of the hinge line interconnecting the remainder of strip 22 to panel 18.

Still referring to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that at each end of the blank retaining member strips 22, 24, and 26 have each been recessed or cutout in two places, indicated at 3t), to provide the pair of spaced finger holes 32 for carrying the carton when it is in erected condition. To provide the finger hole reinforcing tabs 34, each of the top panels 18 has been die cut or perforated as at 36 to provide the tabs 34 adjacent the cutout portions 36. The tabs are hinged to the respective top wall panels along the score lines 38, so that when the carton is erected each of the finger holes is covered by a tab having two halves formed from the respectivetop wall panels 18.

In order to prevent the cans from coming out of the open end of the carton, the top and bottom walls of the carton may be provided with can retaining tabs 40 which are cut from the top and bottom wall panels along lines 42 and which are hinged to their respective panels along score lines 44. Also, to facilitate opening of the carton one of the side wall panels 14 may be provided with a,

series of cuts to form a weakened line of tear 46, and panel 18 may be perforated as at 48 to provide a punchout finger grip opening for starting the tear line. I In assembling the carton after the cans have been deposited on the bottom wall panel 12, the side wall and top wall panels of the carton are folded upwardly around the cans with the inboard edges of the co-planar top wall panels 18 meeting to form a common top wall which, together with the bottom and side walls, forms an open ended tubular structure.

As the car-ton is being formed, strips 22, 24, and 26 are folded over on each other in a manner shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing to provide the central can retaining member 20 which is received between the rows of cans enclosed within the carton. At the time the cartop wall panel 18 in any desired manner such as by gluing.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, when the retaining strips 22, 24, and 26 are folded into position first strips 22 extend downwardly into the carton, second strips 24 extend upwardly toward the top wall of the carton, and third strips 26 extend back downwardly into the carton. Thus, the retaining member, as seen in cross section, includes an enlarged head portion H which is interconnected to the top wall of the carton by a neck portion N. The neck portion is actually only two plys in thickness; whereas the head portion is six plys in thickness. The actual number of plys of this structure may vary to some extent, but the primary object ofthe invention is to provide an arrangement wherein the space S between'the bodies B of adjacent cans of opposed rows is completely filled with the head portion of the retaining member to prevent horizontal movement of the cans. The upper or outwardly facing portion of the head member then presents shoulders or outwardly facing abutment surfaces which'engage the inwardly facing surfaces of the can chimes to prevent vertical movement of the cans. 7

Referring now to FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings which show end portions of blanks similar to the blank illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, it will be seen that various modifications may be formed by cutting the retaining member sections in different ways to change the contour of the openings for the hand grip holes. It is believed that these illustrations are self-explanatory and do not require specific descriptions.

FIGURE, 8 discloses yet another form of the invention in which no hand holes are provided in the area of the central retaining member in the top wall of thecai ton. In this arrangement hand holes may be provided in the side walls of the carton or in any other location, not

shown, which is convenient for lifting or carrying the carton.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawing represents a slight departure from the structures of the previously described views. In this embodiment-the entire central retaining member is formed from one end panels 18. In this embodiment the retaining member includes six sections which numbered from the end of the 527, respectively. In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiments, the retaining member has a head portion which occupies the entire space between the body of the cans.

, 7 section which is attached to only one of the'two top wall ,panel ls outwardly are identified as strips 522 through a i It is believed clear that the structural arrangement in each of the embodiments disclosed in the drawings provides a retaining member which will occupy the space between the can bodies in such a way as to prevent lateral shifting of the cans and which will also present outwardly facing surfaces engageable with the inwardly facing surfaces of the can chimes to prevent the vertical movement of the cans relative to each other and to the carton.

We claim:

1. A wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for enclosing portions of the ends and sides of two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged in side-by-side relation, each of which has at an end thereof a peripheral chime of greater diameter than the remainder of the can body, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed substantially parallel top and bottom walls;

(b) one of said walls including a pair of co-planar sections;

(c) a pair of opposed substantially parallel side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges to respective walls to define a tubular structure open at the ends;

(d) means integral with the carton for preventing the accidental movement of the cans out of the ends of v the carton; and

(e) retaining means integral with said one wall for limiting vertical movement of the cans of opposed rows relative to each other and to said one wall;

(7) said retaining means comprising a retaining member hingedly connected to said one wall and projecting into the carton between said opposed rows of cans;

(g) said retaining member including a head portion disposed betweenthe bodies of adjacent cans of opposed rows at a location immediately inwardly adjacent the chimes of said adjacentcans, and connected to said one wall by a neck portion disposed between said chimes; V a

(h) said head portion extending substantially the entire length of the carton and comprising a plurality of connected, narrow folded panels having a total thickness tofill the space between the can bodies substantially solidly, two of the connected narrow panels immediately. adjacent each can body providing a shoulder portion formed from a reversely folded edge engageable against the respective can chimes at the juncture of the chime and can body.

2. A wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for enclosing portions of the ends and sides of ,two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged in .side-by-sidev relation,-each of which has at an end thereof a peripheral chime of greater diameter than the remainder of the can body, compri ingz a (a) a pairof opposed substantially parallel top and bottom walls; 7 a

(b) a pair of opposed substantially parallel side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges to respective walls to define a tubular structure open at the end 7 r (0) means integral with the carton for preventing the accidental movement of the cans out of the ends of the carton; and a r connected to said one wall by a neck portion dis- 7 posed between said chimes;

(f) said head portion extendingsubstantially the entire length of the carton and comprising a plurality (d) a retaining member hingedly connected to one of of connected, narrow folded panels having a total thickness to till the space between the can bodies substantially solidly, two of the connected, narrow panels immediately adjacent each can body providing a shoulder portion formed from a reversely folded edge engageable against the respective can chimes at the juncture of the chime and can body.

3. A wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for enclosing portions of the ends and sides of two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged in side-by-side relation, each of which has at an end thereof a peripheral chime of greater diameter than the remainder of the can body, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed substantially parallel top and bottom walls;

(12) a pair of opposed substantially parallel side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges to respective walls to define a tubular structure open at an end thereof;

(0) means integral with the carton for preventing the accidental movement of the cans out of an open end of the carton; and

(d) a retaining member hingedly connected to one of said walls and extending into the carton between opposed rows of cans for limiting movement of the cans relative to each other and to said one wall;

(2) said retaining member including a head portion disposed between the bodies of a pair of adjacent cans of opposed rows at a location immediately inwardly adjacent the chimes of said cans, and connected to said one wall by a neck portion disposed between said chimes;

(f) said head portion comprising a plurality of connected, narrow folded panels having a total thickness to fill the space between the can bodies substantially solidly, two of the connected, narrow panels immediately adjacent each can body providing a shoulder portion formed from a reversely folded edge engageable against the respective can chimes at the juncture of the chime and can body.

4. A wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard tor enclosing portions of the ends and sides of two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged in side-by-side relation, each of which has at an end thereof a peripheral chime of greater diameter than the remainder of the can body, comprising:

(a) .a pair of opposed substantially parallel top and bottom walls;

(22) a pair of opposed substantially parallel side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges to respective walls to define a tubular structure;

(0) means integral with the carton for preventing the accidental movement of the cans out of the car-ton; and (d) a retaining member hingedly connected to one of said walls and extending into the carton between a pair of adjacent cans of opposed rows for limiting movement of the cans relative to said one wall;

(e) said retaining member including a head portion disposed between the bodies of said cans at a location immediately inwardly adjacent the chimes thereof, and connected to said one wall by a neck portion disposed between said chimes;

(f) said head portion comprising a plurality of connected narrow folded panels having a total thickness to till the space between the can bodies substantially solidly, two of the connected, narrow panels immediately adjacent each can body providing a shoulder portion formed from a reversely folded edge engageable against the respective can chimes at the juncture of the chime and can body.

5. A wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for enclosing portions of the ends and sides of two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged in side-by-side relation, each of which has at an end 6 thereof a peripheral chime of greater diameter than the remainder of the can body comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed substantially parallel top and bottom walls;

(b) a pair of opposed substantially parallel side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges to respective walls to define a tubular structure; and

(c) a retaining member hingedly connected to one wall and extending into the carton between a pair of adacent cans of opposed rows for limiting relative movement of the cans;

(d) said retaining member including a head portion disposed between the bodies of adjacent cans at a location immediately inwardly adjacent the chimes thereof, and connected to said one wall by a neck portion disposed between said chimes;

(e) said head portion comprising a plurality of connected, narrow folded panels having a total thickness to fill the space between the can bodies substantially solidly, two of the connected, narrow panels immediately adjacent each can body providing a shoulder portion formed from a reversely folded edge engageable against the respective can chimes at the juncture of the chime and can body.

6. A wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for enclosing portions of the ends and sides of two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged in side-by-side relation, each of which has at an end thereof a perpiheral chime of greater diameter than the remainder of the can body, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed substantially parallel top and bottom walls;

(12) a pair of opposed substantially parallel side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges to respective walls to define a tubular structure; and

(c) a retaining member hingedly connected to one wall and extending into the carton between a pair of adjacent cans for limiting relative movement of the cans;

(d) said retaining member including a head portion disposed between said cans at a location immediately inwardly adjacent the chimes thereof, and connected to said one wall by a neck portion disposed between said chimes;

(6) said head portion comprising a plurality of connected, narrow folded panels having a total thickness to till the space between the can bodies substantially solidly, two of the connected, narrow panels immediately adjacent each can body providing a shoulder portion formed from a reversely folded edge engageable against the respective can chimes .at the juncture of the chime and can body.

7. A wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard for enclosing portions of the ends and sides of two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged in side-by-side relation, each of which has at an end thereof a peripheral chime of greater diameter than the remainder of the can body, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed substantially parallel top and bottom walls;

(1;) a pair of opposed substantially parallel side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges to respective walls to define a tubular structure; and

(c) a retaining member hingedly connected to one wail and including a head portion disposed between a pair of adjacent cans at a location immediately inwardly adjacent the chimes thereof, and connected to said one wall by a neck portion disposed between said chimes;

(d) said head portion comprising a plurality of connected, narrow folded panels having a total thickness to fill the space between the can bodies substantially solidly, two of the connected, narrow panels immediately adjacent each can body providing a shoulder portion formed from a reversely folded edge engage- 7 8 abletagainst the respective can chimes at the juncture to said one wall by a neck portion disposed between of the chime. and can body. said chimes; 8. A-Wrap around carton formed from a unitary blank (d) said head portion comprising at least five interof foldable paperboard for enclosing portions of the ends connected, narrow folded P913618 disposed in Parangl and sides of two parallel, opposed rows of cans, arranged 5 overlying relation and having a total ihiCkHeSS 'in side-by-side relation, each of which has at an end therefin R? between, can bodies of a Peripheral chime. of greater diameter than the stantiaily solidly, said head portion including shoulder mainder of am can body Comprising: portlons arranged in close engagement Wlth'thB can v 1 I d chimes to limit movement of said cans relative to (11110101231; aolflsopposcd substan lally para lel top an 10 a other and to Said one wall.

1 1 a gl of i i g ifi g l i panels 7 References Cited in the file of this patent inge y connec e a OPPOSl e s1 e e ges 0 respective Walls to define a tubular structure; and t UNITE? STATES PATENTS (c) a retaining member hingedly connected to one Wall 15 2,922,561 Currlvan 1960 and including a head portion disposed between a 2,963,248 P 1- Q 6, 1960 pair of adacent cans at a location immediately in- 31010973 Chldsey "e 1961 ward-1y adjacent the chimes thereof, and connected FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

8. A WRAP AROUND CARTON FORMED FROM A UNITARY BLANK OF FOLDABLE PAPERBOARD FOR ENCLOSING PORTIONS OF THE ENDS AND SIDES OF TWO PARALLEL, OPPOSED ROWS OF CANS, ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, EACH OF WHICH HAS AT AN END THEREOF A PERIPHERAL CHIME OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN THE REMAINDER OF THE CAN BODY, COMPRISING: (A) A PAIR OF OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS; (B) A PAIR OF OPPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES TO RESPECTIVE WALLS TO DEFINE A TUBULAR STRUCTURE; AND (C) A RETAINING MEMBER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO ONE WALL AND INCLUDING A HEAD PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN A PAIR OF ADJACENT CANS AT A LOCATION IMMEDIATELY INWARDLY ADJACENT THE CHIMES THEREOF, AND CONNECTED TO SAID ONE WALL BY A NECK PORTION DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHIMES; (D) SAID HEAD PORTION COMPRISING AT LEAST FIVE INTERCONNECTED, NARROW FOLDED PANELS DISPOSED IN PARALLEL OVERLYING RELATION AND HAVING A TOTAL THICKNESS SUFFICIENT TO FILL THE SPACE BETWEEN THE CAN BODIES SUBSTANTIALLY SOLIDLY, SAID HEAD PORTION INCLUDING SHOULDER PORTIONS ARRANGED IN CLOSE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CAM CHIMES TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID CANS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND TO SAID ONE WALL. 